Screaming Sally

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

As we look straight down the barrel of 2018, I think we should all take
a moment to remember what 2017 was like for us. Whether you found yourself wasting
oodles of time debating politics on social media or found great success
bringing your small business to online marketing, take the good, throw out the
bad and set your goals for a new year of opportunity.

You don’t really notice when you’re in the moment, but social media is
a huge time suck – even when you are just “checking in” on everyone. I
personally found myself wasting a lot of time on social media, then realizing I
was wasting time, and pulling back from it all to reclaim my time. It was quite
liberating. I was able to
get things done that were previously put off. I was able to catch up on some
reading. I had more time to decorate for the holidays. I had more time for my
family. I had more time for me. And those things have immeasurable value. In fact, the few months of pull back was so successful, I plan on pulling
back even more this year. You can too! Set limits and stick to them! You will
be amazed at how good it feels!

I know that social media is a great place to reconnect and have healthy discussions on a variety of issues or causes. But this past year has felt more like a social media war.

Pulling out the positive.....people seem to be more engaged on the important issues. Discussions are good, but when they cross the line, know when to get out or find common ground before losing a friendship that is certainly more important than politics.

The irony of posting this on social media is not lost on me.

As for me, I’m going to use all of my extra time to write
more, play more and maybe even discover a new hobby or start a new project. I’m going to finally start working out on a consistent basis (she says!). I
really am going to try! I know if I just get started – make that first
step – I will be better off for it in the long run. I may not be there yet, but
I’m closer than I was yesterday.

Stay positive. Think positive. And cheers to a healthy and successful 2018!

Monday, August 28, 2017

I’m turning 46 in a couple of weeks. I’ll be less than a handful of
years away from a half-century old. Maybe I should say a half-century YOUNG. I
certainly don’t think of myself as old. But living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
makes me feel older than I should. So, I made a commitment to myself last year:
I will look my absolute best by the age of 50. I pushed the date out because I
didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself or feel like a failure by giving
a shorter timeline. To jump start my journey, I’ve been phasing out meat and
trying to eat more whole foods on my way to being a vegetarian.

Over the past month, I’ve been keeping a “flare-up” journal – a
record of the foods, etc. that cause me inflammation. I was already aware that
beef/pork was an issue. For years, I have known that perfectly grilled steak or
that beautiful slice of crispy bacon was going to cause me misery, yet I ate it
anyway. The next day, I was swollen and in a tremendous amount of pain. I
finally had to ask myself the question “is it worth it?”

In my journal keeping, I’ve found there are a lot of foods that are
causing me misery, most of them animal fats (butter, sour cream, etc). Fried
food and anything processed is pretty much out, too. Chicken breast was my
go-to meat, but going without it too has made me feel noticeably better.

I’ve had a mostly vegetarian diet for the past two weeks and I can
already tell a difference. When I eat something that’s questionable, I can tell
immediately in my joints. My energy level is up – which is a BIG deal if you’ve
ever know anyone with RA. I just feel better.

I know that this journey is going to be a positive one and is going to
change my life. When you get to be a certain age you start to value things
differently. Your health becomes of the utmost importance, because without you,
you have no quality of life. I value quality of life – and in turn, I might get
more quantity by making myself healthier overall.

I view this as me taking control of my health. Of course for now, I’m
still on my $4,000/month biologic injection for my disease. And, I’ll still
have to take an anti-inflammatory when I have a flare up. But, if I can reduce
the number of flare ups caused by my intake, I can reduce the amount of meds I’ll
need to help ease those flares. My ultimate goal is total remission. I had a
short remission once. I’d love to induce a much longer one. I have full faith
in my body, my mind and my choices to make it happen.

If you’ve been thinking of making dietary changes, no better time than
the present. I guarantee you’ll feel better overall with more of a plant-based
diet. Eat whole foods – the way nature intended. These manufacturers have us
putting who knows what in our bodies on a daily basis. You don’t have to read
an ingredients label when you’re looking at a zucchini.

I’ve already lost 5 ½ lbs! At this rate, I’ll be able to get into some
of those jeans I’ve been hanging onto in my closet by Christmas! Make the
change. You won’t regret it!

Monday, July 17, 2017

I saw on a game show last night that when they surveyed 100 men about
how many times a day they said “I love you” to their wife, the most popular answer
was one. That was shocking to me.

If you knew today was your last day alive, what would you do? My day wouldn’t be about doing things I never
got to do. My day would be about one thing: LOVE.

I would spend every moment making sure the love of my life knew how much
she was loved. I would give infinite kisses and embrace her tightly. I would
tell her everything I ever wanted to tell her but held back because I might’ve
thought it silly or over-the-top at the time. It wouldn’t be silly now, it
would be paramount. I would tell her not to worry about what’s to come without
me, and assure her I would be there in spirit watching over her and protecting
her. I would let her know that when she felt it was time to move on, it would
be okay. No guilt! Life is to be LIVED and to be LOVED and that is the greatest
gift of all.

I would tell her that she has given me more love than I ever felt I
deserved. I would let her know that she made me incredibly happy and that I was
so lucky that she chose me. I would walk her through some of my favorite memories
and look back on our life together. I would let her know that I’m not afraid,
that I’ll be okay.

I’d make sure she knows not to spend a lot of money on my funeral. I
won’t need any of that because I’ll be gone. Elaborate funerals are for the
living. She would be better served by using that memorial fund for a nice long
vacation somewhere that she’s always wanted to go. Don’t waste it by dressing
me up and putting me in a box for people to weep over. I’d tell her that I’ve
had a great life because of the love she has given me and the amazing things we
got to experience together.

I know that these things are easier for me to say than for her to feel.
I’ve lost someone I loved. I know that pain. I know that feeling of emptiness
and longing. But I think one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is to
have the discussion about when your time comes. It’s inevitable for all of us,
yet we avoid talking about it like the plague. And I know that it’s because I’ve lost someone, that I stress
the importance of having that conversation.

Life is so fleeting. Just a blip and then we are gone. All we leave
behind is our legacy, maybe some physical things and hopefully a lot of great
memories. Knowing that, why do we get so caught up in our work and our devices
that we don’t take time to express what everyone will wish they’d had when we’re
gone?

The closer I get to the end of my life, the more I want to live, enjoy
the moments, give all the love I can. I wish I’d done it all along, but at
least I have today. Tomorrow might not come. But today I can give all the love
I have in my heart to the greatest person I’ve ever known. I know she will keep
it forever. And in this life, I have been loved. To me, that’s all that matters
in the end.

Be good to each other.

Please excuse any
misuses of tense in my writing. When I’m emotional, I just write from the heart
– all rules are out the window.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

On a recent trip to New Orleans, Southwest Airlines (SWA) destroyed
my luggage. Prior to that, SWA has a great track record with me and my traveling
companions. (Side note: their priority boarding is totally worth the extra $$.)

On this particular trip, I discovered a HUGE crack down
nearly the entire length of my hardside suitcase. I did a quick search on the
SWA website from my phone to find out their policy for reporting damage. What I
found was you have 4 hours to report the damage in person at the
baggage claim office. I did just that. The “service” from the baggage claim office
was anything but that.

The first rep told me they couldn’t help me because they no
longer pay for damage to your luggage. I asked for a supervisor (a second
opinion of sorts) just to see if I could get a different answer and have
another set of eyes look at my broken valise. She essentially confirmed that
they were not going to help me and told me “it was going to break anyway, it
was just a matter of when.”

Despite my urging them to put something – anything – into their
system as proof of me following their policy, they wouldn’t and ushered me out
the door. Thanks for flying Southwest, eh? Hmm….so I decided to get on
Twitter. I posted pics and further
provided time-stamped proof of my visit and my complaint.

It’s broken bad, almost like it got pinched or nearly bent
in half making its way to my destination. I literally thought that my underwear
was going to come flying out of the bag any moment. So, after holding up my
party for nearly 30 minutes, we Ubered to the hotel and got settled in. Being
proactive for the trip home, I walked all over NOLA trying to find something to
hold my suitcase together on the plane. It was too big for me to carry-on, so
once again, I would be at the mercy of SWA baggage handlers.

I finally found some duct tape and put Humpty Dumpty back together
again.

When I got back home, I downloaded their claim form, filled
it out complete with pics and receipts and sent it off to them hoping that
someone would see this was clearly their fault and offer to replace it.

That’s not what happened.

I promptly got a denial letter back stating that since I
didn’t report the damage within 4 hours to the baggage claim office that they “cannot
accept liability for property that has been out of our care and custody for 11
days prior to reporting damage.” Well, that made my head hot! So, I decided to
dig a little deeper into my research. I hit up GOOGLE and tried to find blog
posts or message boards with stories of anyone who’d had success getting
reimbursed for property damage. I found nothing but stories of the horrors of
dealing with uncaring airline personnel – until I found this.

The notice, in so many words, is a warning to airlines to
revise their policies regarding damage to consumers checked baggage. It states
that in many instances “carriers often post signs indicating they categorically
refuse to compensate passengers” for damage and “also discouraged or refused to
accept reports of such damage.” Finally, I found something that I could use to
my advantage. And I did.

I printed out the notice and attached it with my rebuttal to
my denial letter. I also decided to locate the organizational chart for SWA and
CC some of the powers-that-be on my rebuttal just to make sure my voice was heard.
For your entertainment, I’ve copied/pasted the letter below.

To your point of denying my claim based on the fact that you say I
didn’t report it within the specified timeline:

I did, in fact, go to the Southwest baggage claim office at MSY airport
immediately after getting my luggage from the carousel and seeing the damage. After
a quick Google search, I read that the policy was to report that damage within four
hours of the flight and I did just that. Unfortunately, the two claims
employees there would not produce any sort of paperwork or input anything on my
behalf into the computer system to log my visit, despite my urging. They said
there was “nothing they could do for me” and to “have a good day” as they
ushered me out of the office leaving me bewildered and disappointed. In my
attempt to file my claim, I held up my travel party for more than 30 minutes.
So, I also have a handful of other people willing to support my statements.
Also, I encourage you to look at the video footage to verify my visit there.
You’ve already got the flight info and times, as I listed that on my claim. If
you need a photo of me for comparison, please do not hesitate to ask.

I have attached, for your reference, the NOTICE REGARDING DAMAGE TO
CHECKED BAGGAGE issued by the United States of America Department of
Transportation from the Office of the Secretary, Washington DC and highlighted
the responsibilities laid forth by the Office of Aviation Enforcement and
Proceedings regarding damage to luggage and the fact that Carriers and their
agents’ refusals to accept damage reports by passengers. It also says that
carriers should be prepared to reimburse the passenger appropriately. I know my
rights and will pursue those rights to the fullest.

FYI - I had just purchased that suitcase only months before, and was
traveling with it for the first time. On its maiden voyage, your airlines
destroyed it – on my outgoing trip. I not only had to suffer the loss of my new
luggage, I also had to run all over New Orleans trying to find something to just
might hold it together long enough to get back home. The suitcase can never
travel again, as it is literally split in two on one side – jeopardizing the
safe transport of all things enclosed.

I have used Southwest Airlines as my carrier of choice for over 20
years now and have been happy with the airline and level of service. This was
the annual “girl’s trip” to New Orleans that we’ve done now for 15 years. My
entire group of friends has used Southwest for years and collectively, we have
spent thousands of dollars traveling with your company.

You see, Southwest Airlines is supposed to be different from those
other guys. You even have a heart as part of your logo, indicative of the love
and care you have for your passengers. I have entrusted you with not only my
life and the lives of my family, but also with all of our belongings. But now,
you have lost my trust. You have said to me that you will take no
responsibility for damaging my property. In the real world, if you break it,
you buy it. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to mail you my broken suitcase so it
can be a constant reminder of your failure as an airline, and your failure to
do right by your travel guests. As an alternate choice, I know from the news
that Southwest just had a record year and awarded its employees handsomely
($586 million dollars in profit sharing!), someone could pay replace my luggage
with part of their bonus. Just a thought. I guess that might be how the airline
is so profitable – by not paying for claims related to their negligence.

I have a choice when it comes to who I use for air transportation. And,
if this request goes south and doesn’t provide the outcome that is right and
just, I will have no choice but to give my hard earned money to another
airline. It is not okay for you to destroy something and then take absolutely
no responsibility for it.

As you read this, please know that I’ve CC’d some key players in your
organization as well as provided them with your information. I apologize in
advance if you are contacted regarding this issue, but it feels like the right
course of action. I hope your decision will be adjusted and you will do the
right thing as a company.

So, long story even longer, I finally got a call from a lady
at SWA who apologized profusely for the way I’d been treated and the way my
claim was handled. She offered to reimburse me for the luggage and I accepted. I told her that all I ever wanted was to be
heard and to be valued as a passenger.

Don’t let up on an airline if you truly feel that they
should be liable for the damage. I’ll admit, my suitcase didn’t cost a great
deal of money. It wasn’t really about the money. It was principle. I was denied
twice, but I persevered. Make sure you follow their posted procedures, take
photos and get on social media and timestamp your complaint. If you can record
your interaction with any representatives, that would support your claim.

I know this was an especially long post by me, but I hope
this helps anyone who may have to deal with a property damage claim due to
mishandling or equipment. You have rights, believe it or not, and
it’s about time we call out the airlines for it!

About Me

I like to cook. I like to make things with my hands. I like to see progress. It makes me happy. I'm not sure what makes me uniquely qualified to write about anything, really. I just write about things that interest me.